Th fundamental principles of a government and the basic structures and procedures by which the government operates to fulfill those principles; may be written or unwritten

Natural (unalienable) Rights

The rights possessed by all humans as a gift from nature, or God, including the rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness

Republic

A government that derives its authority from the people and in which citizens elect goernment officials to represent them in the processes by which laws are made; a representative democracy

Bicameral Legislature

Legislature comprising two parts, called chambers

Bill of Rights

A written list of citizen's liberties within a constitution that establishes a limited government by ensuring that both the people and the government know what freedoms the government cannot violate.

Confederation

A union of independent states in which each state retains its sovereignty, rights, and power, which is not by their agreement expressly delegated to a central governing body

Unicameral Legislation

A legislative body with a single chamber

Dual Sovereignty

A system of government in which ultimate governing authority is divided between two levels of government, a central government and regional governments, with each level having ultimate authority over different policy matters

Supremacy Clause

A clause in Article VI (6) of the Constitution that states that the Constitution and the treaties and laws created by the national government in compliance with the Constitiution are the supreme law of the land

Separation of Powers

The Constitution's delegation of authority for the primary governing functions among three brances of government so that no one group of goernment officials controls all the governing functions

Checks and Balances

A system in which each branch of government can monitor and limit the functions of other branches

Virginia Plan

New governmental structure proposed by the Virginia delegation at the Constitutional Convention.

Bicameral Legislation

Executive elected by Legislature

Separate national judiciary

State representation in Congress would be proportional based on sate population

Citizens would elected members to the lower house

Lower house elect members for upper house

New Jersey Plan

Proposal presented in response to the Virginia Plan by the less populous states.

Unicameral Legislation (all states had equal votes)

Executive office composed of several people elected by congress

Supreme court whose members would be appointed by executive office

Great (Connecticut) Compromise

Compromise between Virginia and New Jersey Plans.

Bicameral Legislature

House of Representatives (based on population)

Senate (2 senators per state)

Electoral College

The name given to he body of Representaties elected by voters in each state to elect the president and vice president

Three-Fifths Compromise

The negotiated agreement by the delegates to the Constitutional Convention to count each slave as 3/5 a free man for the purpouse of representation and taxes

Veto

The president's rejection of a bill, which is sent back to congree with the president's objections noted

Advice and Consent

The senate's autority to approve or reject the president's appointments

Marbury v. Madison

1803 Supreme Court case that established the power of judicial review, which allows courts to determine that an action taken by any government official or governing body violates the Constitution

Judicial Review

Court authority to determine that an action taken by any government official or governing body violates the Constitution

Federalists

Individuals who supported the new Constitution as presented by the Consitiutional Convention in 1787

Anti-Federalists

Individuals who opposed ratification of the Constitution because they were deeply suspicious of the powers it gave to the national government and of the impact those powers would have on states' authority and individual freedoms

The Federalist Paters

A series of essays, written by James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay, that argued for the ratification of the Constitution.

Bill of Rights

The first ten amendments to the Constitution which was ratified in 1791

1. freedom of speech

2. right to bear arms, regulated militia

3. protection from quartering troops

4. protection from unreasonable search and seizure

5. due process, double jeopardy, self-incrimination, eminent domain

6. trial by jury, right to counsel, speedy and public trial

7. civil trial by jury

8. protection from cruel and unusual punishment

9. Protection of rights not specifically enumerated in the Constitution